Metro Manila

A typical Spanish Baroque Organ built and enlarged until 1815. It
is proven that some parts of the organ came from an older
instrument which was destroyed or rendered unplayable after the
British Invasion in the 18th century . At the wall behind the instrument
are holes which were probably used for the bracework of the
smaller instrument.
We believe that Fr. Diego Cera (builder of the Bamboo Organ)
learned from the construction of this organ whose great builder is
still unknown today.

From 1976 up to 1980, the organ underwent a repair that changed
its entire original system (tracker action) to a modern electric action.
This proves to be unsuitable to our tropical climate and after 10 years,
the organ was already unplayable. The change was bad enough that
the old original parts were neglected and left in a harsh environment of
the church 'bodega'. Parts were used as tables and some were
even burned until we were able to recover them piece by piece
and properly documented in 1992 and placed them in a more wood
friendly environment in the room adjacent to the organ.

In 1996, the Diego Cera Organbuilders with the guidance of
Spanish Organbuilder Federico Acitores started the restoration of
the instrument. It proved to be a big puzzle at the start but after a while
it started to fit piece by piece. Around 70 % of the original parts were still used

and the rest were reconstructed according to its original style using the same wood that were used.

The instrument which is the oldest existing organ in the country
was inaugurated in November 1998.

 

Organo Major
Mano Izquierda (Bass)		C - c1    25 notes	Mano Derecha (Descant)		cs1 - f 3 29 notes
Flautado de 13	Principal 8’		Flautado de 13	Principal 8’
Octava Clara	Octave 4’		Octava Clara	Octave 4’
Docena Clara	Quint 2 2/3’		Docena y Quincena	2 2/3’ and 2’
Quincena	Octave 2’
Decinovena y Ventidocena	1 1/3’ and 1’		Decinovena y Ventidocena	1 1/3’ and 1’
Lleno	1 1/3’    1’    1’    2/3’		Lleno	2 2/3’   2’   2’   1 1/3’
Cimbala	1’    2/3’    ½’		Cimbala	2’   1 1/3’   1’
Flautado Violon	Gedackt 8’		Flautado Violon	Gedackt 8’
Octava Nasarda	Open Flute 4’		Octava Nasarda	Open Flute 4’
Docena Nasarda	Quint Flute 2 2/3’		Docena Nasarda	Quint Flute 2 2/3’
			Corneta	(7 ranks)
Trompa Real			Clarin Real
Basjoncillo			Trompa Magna
Chirimia			Clarin Claro
Cromorno			Clarin Sonoro
Cadereta	Short Octave C - c1  21 notes			cs1 - c3  24 notes
Flautado Tapado	Gedackt 4’		Flautado Tapado de 13	Gedackt 8’
Octava	Octave 2’		Octava	Octave 4’
Docena y Quincena	1 1/3’  and   1’		Docena Y Quincena	2 2/3’  and  2’
Octava Nasarda	Open Flute 2’
Bajon	Trumpet 4’		Obue	Oboe 8’
			Clarin de Ecos	Echo Trumpet 8’

Pedal   :        12 notes

               

                Contra de 13             Open Bass  8’

                Bombarda                 Trumpet  8’

 

Ornaments:

 

                Pajarillo

                Tambor

                Campanillas

 

Wind Supply :            70 mm WS

                Parallel Bellow (2.5 meters by 1.3 meters)  with 2 wedge pump bellows